If you're looking for a quick getaway into nature, venture into one of these great state parks.
Westmoreland State Park
145 Cliff Road
Montross, Virginia 22520
dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/westmoreland
One of the original six state parks to open in 1936 with the Virginia State Park system, Westmoreland State Park occupies a stretch of one-and-a-half miles along the Potomac River (1,321 total acres) and is named for the county where it is located.
Visitors to Westmoreland State Park will find an Olympic-sized swimming pool, campgrounds, cabins, a playground, a fishing pier, boat docking and rentals and six miles of multipurpose trails. For people seeking an outdoor or weekend retreat, Murphy Hall accommodates up to 72 people for gatherings and includes audiovisual equipment, a kitchen for catered events and an executive board room.
Nearby attractions include Stratford Hall and George Washington’s Birthplace Monument.
Belle Isle State Park
1632 Belle Isle Rd.
Lancaster, Virginia 22503
dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/belle-isle
Belle Isle State Park, not to be confused with Belle Isle Historic Park in Richmond, spans seven miles on the Rappahannock River shoreline and encompasses 892 acres in rural Lancaster County.
Visitors are treated to a fishing pier, picnic shelters, hiking and bridle trails, biking and boat rentals, and watercraft rentals (canoes, kayaks).
Bel Air Mansion, which sits on 33-acres in the park, is a colonial-style venue that attracts couples looking for a historic and scenic place to entertain guests and exchange nuptials.
Nearby attractions include the Virginia Oyster Trail, Northern Neck Artisan Trail, Tangier Island, Mary Ball Washington Museum, Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, Morattico Waterfront Museum and Steamboat Era Museum.
York River State Park
9801 York River Park Rd.
Williamsburg, Virginia 23188
dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/york-river
York River State Park is known for its rare freshwater-meets-saltwater habitat. The park is designated as a Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This means it’s protected and managed by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the College of William and Mary for long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education and coastal stewardship.
Park visitors will find 30 miles of multipurpose wooded trails, access to boats, canoes, and kayaks, fishing and fossil beds. The visitors center holds exhibits and there is a picnic area complete with a playground for little ones. The park runs programs centered around York River history, habitats and wildlife, and preservation. Nocturnal visitors are welcome to join groups for astronomy hikes during the warmer months.
Nearby attractions include Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Jamestown Island and Yorktown.
Machicomoco State Park
3601 Timberneck Farm Rd.
Hayes, Virginia 23072
dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/machicomoco
Virginia’s 40th (and newest) state park, Machicomoco State Park, was dedicated to honoring the heritage, stories, and contributions of Virginia’s Native American tribes. Guest of the park can explore an open educational pavilion to learn about Virginia Native American culture. Throughout the park, visitor can learn bit of Algonquian language and see native trees, shrubs and other plants, used for food, medicine and ceremonial purposes.
This 643-acre park, which runs along the banks of the York River in Gloucester County, features modern and primitive campgrounds, a boat launch, three miles of paved trails all on a historically and ecologically diverse landscape, which includes agriculture, maritime forest, marsh, uplands, wetlands, and estuarine habitat.
Nearby attractions include Gloucester Main Street and Yorktown’s Riverfront and American Revolution Museum.
